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HP unveils all-in-one Z1 G2 workstation

HP has unveiled the Z1 G2, the second generation of its iMac-style all-in-one graphics workstations, adding optional support for touch capabilities and Thunderbolt 2.

Choice of touch support or no-glare finish
The Z1 G2 comes in two configurations, both 27″ in size, with a native resolution of 2,560 x 1,440: edge-to-edge glass with support for Windows 8 Touch, or a no-glare matte finish without touch support.

The former gives you 10-finger touch support comparable to “high-end smartphones and tablets”; the latter the option to use Windows 7 or Linux – which probably makes it most studios’ choice by default.

The other key change between the Z1 G2 and its predecessor is support for Thunderbolt 2 as a faster alternative to USB 3.0 – although as yet, only via an optional add-in card.

Similar add-in cards will also be made available for HP’s existing Z420, Z620 and Z820 professional desktop workstations later this month.

Other tech specs
Inside, there is a choice of dual or quad-core Core-i5 or fourth-gen Intel Xeon CPUs; Nvidia Quadro K610M, K2100M, K3100M or K4100M GPUs; and up to 32GB of 1,866MHz ECC DD3 memory.

For storage, there is a range of internal drives, including a 500GB-3TB 7,200rpm SATA storage drive and a 128-256GB mSATA SSD.

HP is also pushing the Z1 G2’s focus on “ease of use and user simplicity”. The new models feature the same tool-less upgrade system as before, but HP comments that it is “just as proud of things we’ve eliminated [as those we’ve added]”.

The HP Z1 G2 is expected to become available in late January. Pricing starts at $1,999.